Lack of clarity about exclusion of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from the Supreme Court’s judgment on Thursday declaring the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) as sole test for medical admissions in the country has created confusion among students, but the respective governments opine that the judgment doesn’t affect them.
It will not impact Telugu students much as the two Telugu States are protected by the Article 371(D) and the subsequent Presidential Order that gives special privileges in admissions in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This is the opinion obtained by the two governments from legal experts.
The Supreme Court orders say that NEET 2016-17 will be conducted as per the notification dated December 21, 2010, of the Medical Council of India (MCI). The notification, however, doesn’t mention that AP and Telangana or some other States are excluded. The notification clearly mentions that all admissions to MBBS course will be based solely on the marks obtained in the NEET.
“Our legal experts say it doesn’t affect us. We will take a final view after going through the judgment to seek exemption,” said T. Papi Reddy, Chairman of the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE). Chairman of the A.P. State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) L. Venugopal Reddy said their counsel had raised the issue of special case of two Telugu states during the arguments. “We obtained the legal opinion and got clearance for the EAMCET to be conducted on Friday,” Prof. Reddy said.
At the same time, a strong opinion emerges from stakeholders, including teachers, that even in the worst case scenario of Supreme Court insisting on NEET, it would not have any impact on the admission procedure. NEET would anyway give separate national and State ranks and students would not lose much as admissions would be based on the 85:15 ratio of local and non-locals.
Meanwhile, academics advised students not to get tense as preparation-wise there would not be much change. “Even if NEET is made mandatory Telugu students will not be affected,” says Kumar of Sri Chaitanya Medical Academy. He says in fact Telugu students will benefit if both the States prefer to join the national pool giving 15 per cent of the seats losing 1,800 seats, but they will get access to nearly 7,000 additional medical seats across the country.
